One day Floyd Mallon’s photographs will don the walls of prestigious exhibitions around the world. That’s the ultimate goal, and he’s already firmly on his way after winning the Australian Geographic Junior Nature Photographer of the Year Award. The Maitland Grossmann High School student’s work Running Wombat earned him the accolade. It was a shot that took time and patience – he had to wait for the wombat to move into the perfect position. Floyd doesn’t usually take wildlife photographs, he mainly focuses on nature and landscapes, but his interest in it is increasing. His Milky Way series is one of his favourites – it’s something unseen by the naked eye. “It’s great to be outdoors and to see and capture these amazing things, that’s my motivation,” he said. “It’s a really cool feeling to take photos of the Milky Way, it’s an amazing thing.” Floyd, 17, said he was up against some stiff competition. “It was great to get a win, it’s a really well-known competition in Australia and it’s an honour to be a part of it. If you look at the other categories there are some amazing photos, it’s just n incredible honour to be part of it,” he said. “I’m very lucky my parents support me, it’s a pretty expensive hobby. The gear definitely helps, but these days people take great photos with their phones. “It’s all about the location, especially with landscape photography and being there at the right time.” Floyd hopes to pursue photography as a career, or even venture into cinematography. A career with a camera is his mandate. “Working with cameras is what I love, I’ve always been around them, I’ve always got one – the more I play around with it the more I learn,” he said. “I look back at the photos to work out how I could make it better next time and look at different techniques.” Most of his inspiration comes from family holidays and around the Maitland flood plain. He has also been drawn to landscapes around Lorn. “With nature and landscape photography it’s about showing the beauty of our own country and promoting how special and unique it is,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of stuff around [Maitland] recently, there’s a lot of inspiration around here.”

One day Floyd Mallon’s photographs will don the walls of prestigious exhibitions around the world.

That’s the ultimate goal, and he’s already firmly on his way after winning the Australian Geographic Junior Nature Photographer of the Year Award.

The Maitland Grossmann High School student’s work Running Wombat earned him the accolade. It was a shot that took time and patience – he had to wait for the wombat to move into the perfect position.

Floyd doesn’t usually take wildlife photographs, he mainly focuses on nature and landscapes, but his interest in it is increasing.

His Milky Way series is one of his favourites – it’s something unseen by the naked eye.

“It’s great to be outdoors and to see and capture these amazing things, that’s my motivation,” he said.

“It’s a really cool feeling to take photos of the Milky Way, it’s an amazing thing.”

Floyd, 17, said he was up against some stiff competition.

“It was great to get a win, it’s a really well-known competition in Australia and it’s an honour to be a part of it. If you look at the other categories there are some amazing photos, it’s just n incredible honour to be part of it,” he said.

“I’m very lucky my parents support me, it’s a pretty expensive hobby. The gear definitely helps, but these days people take great photos with their phones.

“It’s all about the location, especially with landscape photography and being there at the right time.”

Floyd hopes to pursue photography as a career, or even venture into cinematography.

A career with a camera is his mandate.

“Working with cameras is what I love, I’ve always been around them, I’ve always got one – the more I play around with it the more I learn,” he said.

“I look back at the photos to work out how I could make it better next time and look at different techniques.”

Most of his inspiration comes from family holidays and around the Maitland flood plain. He has also been drawn to landscapes around Lorn.

“With nature and landscape photography it’s about showing the beauty of our own country and promoting how special and unique it is,” he said.

“I’ve been doing a lot of stuff around [Maitland] recently, there’s a lot of inspiration around here.”